Dig into Plants: Woodland Stonecrop

Woodland Stonecrop

Other Common Names: Wild Stonecrop, Three-leaved Stonecrop, Mountain Stonecrop, Stonecrop, Whorled Stonecrop

Scientific Name: Sedum ternatum

Native to Alabama: Yes

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Learn More About...

Basic Plant Information

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I am a vascular plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous.
I keep my leaves year-round, so I am evergreen.
I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
I can grow up to 0.5 feet high and up to 0.75 feet wide.

Ecological Benefits

This plant provides food for:

Butterflies

Other Pollinators

Other Birds

Maintenance Notes

Dormant in winter.
Cut back after flowering to maintain the bushy shape and thick stems.
When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots.
Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
Requires average amount of water.

Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:

Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Part Sun/Shade
(2-6 hours of sun per day)

Average Watering

Well-drained, Sandy, or Clay,
or Moist Soil

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

Wikimedia – David J Stang

LEAF DESCRIPTION

Light green leaves up to 1-inch long are fleshy and flat; grow in whorls of three; lower leaves are spatula-shaped, non-flowering stems are oval-shaped; flower stems have smaller leaves than non-flowering stems

Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)


Shape: Ovate	Margin: Entire

Arrangement: Alternate/Whorled	Form: Simple

Wikimedia – David J Stang

FLOWER DESCRIPTION

Flower is radially symmetrical with 4-5 petals with sharp points and 5 green sepals and purple stamens, ½ inch wide; occur in clusters on ends of three curved branches per flower stalk.

Flower Shape Chart (JPG)


Color: White	Shape: Stellate (star-shaped)	Bloom Months: Mar – Jun

SEED DESCRIPTION

Plant spreads by:
Seeds
Can self-seed; detached leaves can be rooted in soil to form new plants


Type: Fruit – Dry Seed Pod	Description: Small capsule (a chamber within the fruit) and splits open when ripe; small dark brown seeds	Months in Seed: Fall – Winter

Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:

All plants start life as a seed.
The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

General Plant Life Cycle – Dreamstime

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Ready as-is PDF

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Editable Word Doc

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Editable Word Doc

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